A popular Tennessee Congresswoman,Marsha Blackburn (R),has become the first woman and the first Tennessean to add her name to the list of co-sponsors for Representative Bill Posey’s (R-FL) proposed amendment (HR-1503).

The bill amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, and would require candidates for President of the United States to provide among other things, “…a copy of the candidate’s birth certificate…”.

The bill’s list of co-sponsors continues to grow with Blackburn as its latest member. The seven [now ten] Representatives already supporting the bill are:
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Rep. Bill Posey (R-Florida) (sponsor)

Rep. John R. Carter (R-Texas)

Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas)

Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas)

Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Virgina)

Rep. John Campbell (R-California) and

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee)

[and]

[Rep. Dan Burton (R- Indiana)] and

[Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas)]

[Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-Texas)]

Posey’s bill is controversial because there are those on both sides of the political spectrum who oppose the idea that a candidate for President or Vice-President should have to submit a copy of his or her birth certificate for inspection. The reasoning behind this opposition remains unclear.

The bill reads:

“To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require the principal campaign committee of a candidate for election to the office of President to include with the committee’s statement of organization a copy of the candidate’s birth certificate, together with such other documentation as may be necessary to establish that the candidate meets the qualifications for eligibility to the Office of President under the Constitution.”.

and

“Congress finds that under section 5 of article II of the Constitution of the United States, in order to be eligible to serve as President, an individual must be a natural born citizen of the United States who has attained the age of 35 years and has been a resident within the United States for at least 14 years.”

If enacted, the amendment would be in force during the upcoming 2012 U. S. Presidential election.

Thebillhas been referred to committee in the U.S, House of Representatives.